The Coastal Edit | Holiday Style
Somewhere along the way, Christmas fashion became wonderfully ridiculous.
We went from carefully coordinated holiday outfits to showing up at parties wearing giant reindeer, blinking Christmas trees, and sweaters that look like someone decorated them during a particularly enthusiastic craft night.
And the funny thing? We love it.
For Christmas 2026, holiday style is embracing personality. Oversized bows, nostalgic decorations, playful characters, unexpected colors, and unapologetically festive details are making the season feel a little less serious.
But there's another Christmas aesthetic making its way into the conversation.
What if your holiday spirit belongs at the beach?
Welcome to coastal Christmas, where Santa trades snow boots for sand, Christmas trees are decorated with seashells, and the holiday dress code comes with a little salt air.
Why Are Ugly Christmas Sweaters Still So Popular?
The ugly Christmas sweater has become one of the few fashion traditions where looking a little ridiculous is practically the point.
It's the outfit that starts conversations before you've even said hello. It gives everyone permission to have fun, and it makes the annual office holiday party considerably less formal.
The best part is that you don't actually have to wear something ugly.
Today's festive outfits can be funny, colorful, nostalgic, or surprisingly stylish. A playful Christmas sweatshirt paired with good denim and boots can feel intentional rather than like a costume.
And that's where holiday fashion gets interesting.
Christmas 2026 Trend No. 1: More Is More
Minimalism can take December off.
One of the defining holiday directions this year is playful maximalism: bold color, whimsical ornaments, and decorations with personality.
Think oversized bows, cheerful characters, decorated trees, and festive details that refuse to be subtle.
And why should all that fun stay on the Christmas tree?
A sweatshirt featuring a little seagull in a Santa hat carrying presents feels perfectly appropriate for the season. Especially if your idea of holiday magic involves a marina rather than a mountain cabin.
The coastal take: A Santa seagull, a festive beach scene, and a Christmas sweatshirt that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Featured Feel Coastal piece: Santa Gull Christmas Sweatshirt.
Christmas 2026 Trend No. 2: The Christmas Tree Gets a Coastal Makeover
There's something charming about a traditional Christmas tree. The pine branches, twinkling lights, and familiar ornaments have earned their place.
But imagine replacing those ornaments with seashells, starfish, ocean-blue details, and a beautiful oversized ribbon.
Suddenly, Christmas feels like a holiday spent somewhere between a Mediterranean seaside village and a dreamy beach house.
A seashell Christmas tree brings together two things we love: nostalgic holiday traditions and the feeling of being near the water.
It's festive without needing snow, and colorful without abandoning a refined coastal aesthetic.
The coastal take: Seashell Christmas trees in soft blue, pink, ivory, and festive red.
Featured Feel Coastal pieces: Ugly Christmas Tree Sweatshirt and Beach Christmas Tree Tee.
Christmas 2026 Trend No. 3: Funny Holiday Sweatshirts That You Actually Want to Wear
Not every Christmas party calls for a dramatic sweater.
Sometimes you want something comfortable enough for a coffee run, cute enough for a holiday lunch, and festive enough to make people smile.
Enter the Christmas graphic sweatshirt.
Pair a deep green holiday sweatshirt with straight-leg jeans and sneakers. Wear a white Christmas sweatshirt with denim shorts somewhere warm. Or choose a purple festive graphic with wide-leg jeans and a simple gold necklace.
The trick is to let the holiday graphic be the statement.
A little humor goes a long way.
The coastal take: Surfing seagulls, decorated beach Christmas trees, and festive graphics that feel like a holiday postcard from somewhere sunny.
Featured Feel Coastal pieces: Coastal Holiday Christmas Sweatshirt and Funny Christmas Sweatshirt.
Christmas 2026 Trend No. 4: Holiday Colors Beyond Red and Green
Traditional Christmas colors aren't going anywhere, but they no longer have the entire holiday wardrobe to themselves.
Ocean blue, soft pink, ivory, purple, and washed charcoal bring a fresh perspective to festive clothing.
And for coastal Christmas style, the combinations are especially fun.
A pink ribbon against blue seashells. A deep green sweatshirt with a cheerful seaside character. A purple sweatshirt featuring a holiday scene that looks nothing like the North Pole.
You still get the Christmas feeling, just with a different view.
What to Wear to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
The invitation says ugly Christmas sweater party. Your personal style says you'd still like to look good in the photographs.
Fortunately, the two aren't mutually exclusive.
For a casual party, try an oversized festive sweatshirt with straight-leg jeans and sneakers. For something a little more styled, choose a playful Christmas graphic, dark denim, ankle boots, and simple jewelry.
If the party is outdoors or somewhere warm, a Christmas graphic T-shirt with relaxed jeans or denim shorts can be a comfortable alternative.
And if the dress code requires something truly outrageous, choose the most entertaining graphic you can find.
A surfing Santa seagull is a pretty good place to start.
A Coastal Christmas Is a State of Mind
You don't have to live by the ocean to love a coastal Christmas.
Maybe you spend December dreaming about warmer places. Maybe your favorite holiday memories involve beach walks, waterfront restaurants, or escaping somewhere sunny.
Or maybe you simply prefer seashells to snowflakes.
At Feel Coastal, we believe the holiday season should leave room for personality, humor, and a little bit of escape.
So this year, wear the festive sweatshirt. Decorate the tree with shells. Put a Santa hat on a seagull.
Christmas can be magical without being traditional.
And if anyone asks why your Christmas sweater has a seagull on it?
Tell them Santa needed a vacation too.
Explore the Festive Coast collection at Feel Coastal — coastal Christmas sweatshirts, funny holiday graphics, and beach-inspired festive T-shirts for people who carry the ocean with them all year long.
